Kerry Wood's Return Was Creepy

[Derwood]

I mentioned this in the Game Thread

 

When Wood came into the game last night, I should have been excited. I wasn't. I was creeped out.

 

His presence on the team just seemed weird. It's not his team anymore. Wood belongs on the field with Prior, Sosa and Alou.

 

It's hard to explain, but it was kind of like seeing a friend from high school after many years. You spent a lot of good times with them in the past, but now they look different, you've changed....the chemistry is gone.

 

Anyways, it was weird

[nick23]

I had the complete oppisite feeling. I enjoyed the hell out of it.

[Derwood]

I had the complete oppisite feeling. I enjoyed the hell out of it.

 

I think equal parts of a) him coming out of the pen, b) him being really skinny and c) me psychologically moving on from Wood/Prior for my own sanity

[UMFan83]

I think Wood belongs on the field with Scott Servais, Jose Hernandez and Jeff Blauser, but that's just me.

[Soul]

The Ghosts of Cubbie past, I like it.

 

Can we get '98 Sosa back to play RF too? 8-)

 

I sort of felt it, too Derwood. I didn't pay much heed to the feeling until you mentioned it though.

 

He pitched well. Let's hope he holds together.

[Derwood]

The Ghosts of Cubbie past, I like it.

 

Can we get '98 Sosa back to play RF too? 8-)

 

I sort of felt it, too Derwood. I didn't pay much heed to the feeling until you mentioned it though.

 

He pitched well. Let's hope he holds together.

 

yeah, don't get me wrong, I wish for nothing but the best from him and really hope he holds together a bullpen that seems to be unraveling at the moment. it was just weird. other people in the game thread felt it too

[Banedon]

I can agree with you about him being skinny not feeling right. But boy he was chucking it up there pretty good wasn't he?

[Derwood]

http://faninterference.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/kerry_wood_studio_cubs.jpg

 

vs.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_134268.jpg

 

i'm telling you, it's like seeing a friend who just came out of rehab or something

[badger1679666666]

http://faninterference.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/kerry_wood_studio_cubs.jpg

 

vs.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_134268.jpg

 

i'm telling you, it's like seeing a friend who just came out of rehab or something

 

Luckily his stuff/velocity etc. was the same.

 

He still had that nasty hook and slider.

[Cubsown2007]

I have to disagree. I was elated, and I found the inning a welcome distraction from a pretty ugly game on the Cubs part.

 

Glad he's back. It's been far too long.

[C.C.]

Creepy? Hell no! I was cheering! It was the only thing that was good last night. He looked great and I forgot how much I missed watching him deal. There is just something about him that when he takes the bump it's instant energy. I loved it!

[badger1679666666]

There has to be a home video floating around that has the standing ovation. Anyone from nsbb.com have one?

[jersey cubs fan]

I never understood the supposed "need" to move on emotionally or mentally from the Wood era. He's a valuable asset and it was good to have him contribute.

[Derwood]

I never understood the supposed "need" to move on emotionally or mentally from the Wood era. He's a valuable asset and it was good to have him contribute.

 

it wasn't so much a need than it was just a natural occurrence. I simply haven't relied on Wood or Prior for 2 years

[Soul]

I never understood the supposed "need" to move on emotionally or mentally from the Wood era. He's a valuable asset and it was good to have him contribute.

 

Quite logical, Mr. Spock 8-)

 

 

I think it's just the pain of seeing him fail to return over & over. People don't want to go through that again. But to hell with it, it was great to see him back. He is definitely needed.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm pissed that Lou waited this long so his return got oversahdowed by Glavine's night AND it wasn't broadcast on WGN or CSN.

[Peoriaman]

Creepy is reserved for Cardinal fans. Personally, I enjoyed the hell out of it too.

[Derwood]

if he continues to pitch well, i'll get over the creepiness, believe me.

[jersey cubs fan]

I never understood the supposed "need" to move on emotionally or mentally from the Wood era. He's a valuable asset and it was good to have him contribute.

 

it wasn't so much a need than it was just a natural occurrence. I simply haven't relied on Wood or Prior for 2 years

 

I haven't relied on him either, but I don't see how that translates into feeling creepy when he does return.

[Derwood]

I never understood the supposed "need" to move on emotionally or mentally from the Wood era. He's a valuable asset and it was good to have him contribute.

 

it wasn't so much a need than it was just a natural occurrence. I simply haven't relied on Wood or Prior for 2 years

 

I haven't relied on him either, but I don't see how that translates into feeling creepy when he does return.

 

just telling you what my initial reaction was. It was just weird to me

[UMFan83]

I never understood the supposed "need" to move on emotionally or mentally from the Wood era. He's a valuable asset and it was good to have him contribute.

 

I don't understand it at all. Look, I like Wood, he's a nice guy. He has pitched some great games, he was so compelling in 1998, and he almost single handedly got us our only postseason series win since 1908. But I don't understand the attachment to a guy who has 71 career wins and has made only 30 starts twice in his career. I know people are latching on to what he was, a dominating rookie with an unhittable slurve, a fireballer with a 96 MPH tailing fastball, etc. But to call any part of Kerry's career the "Wood era" would be selling short the disappointment that is/was his career.

[badger1679666666]

I never understood the supposed "need" to move on emotionally or mentally from the Wood era. He's a valuable asset and it was good to have him contribute.

 

I don't understand it at all. Look, I like Wood, he's a nice guy. He has pitched some great games, he was so compelling in 1998, and he almost single handedly got us our only postseason series win since 1908. But I don't understand the attachment to a guy who has 71 career wins and has made only 30 starts twice in his career. I know people are latching on to what he was, a dominating rookie with an unhittable slurve, a fireballer with a 96 MPH tailing fastball, etc. But to call any part of Kerry's career the "Wood era" would be selling short the disappointment that is/was his career.

 

This part is totally and utterly meaningless.

 

Also, people will never forgot what he did in 2003, until we win the WS. IT was because of him that we made it that far. He's always been a classy guy willing to pitch through GOD knows how much pain for this team over and over and over again. He was anything but soft and always showed a ton of heart. Yes, I know it's baseball cliche etc. but he was a warrior when he was out on the mound, and a leader in the clubhouse.

 

That's why people are so attached to Kerry Wood. At least, that's why I am.

[Marco4]

I think I can see where you're coming from Derwood. I don't know if I'd go so far as to call it creepy, but it was one of those moments that makes you think. It was good to see him back on the mound (he got his 1300th K last night, you know - I think only Johan Santana is younger of those with more. I may be wrong) yesterday, and I hope we can see him pitching just as well as he did again.

 

Maybe if they hadn't kept telling us he was due, then not putting him in, it would be less odd.

[XZero771679666304]

I never understood the supposed "need" to move on emotionally or mentally from the Wood era. He's a valuable asset and it was good to have him contribute.

 

I don't understand it at all. Look, I like Wood, he's a nice guy. He has pitched some great games, he was so compelling in 1998, and he almost single handedly got us our only postseason series win since 1908. But I don't understand the attachment to a guy who has 71 career wins and has made only 30 starts twice in his career. I know people are latching on to what he was, a dominating rookie with an unhittable slurve, a fireballer with a 96 MPH tailing fastball, etc. But to call any part of Kerry's career the "Wood era" would be selling short the disappointment that is/was his career.

 

This part is totally and utterly meaningless.

 

 

 

 

Yes it is. Kerry really should have won 20+ games 2 or 3 times. He would have if wins were actually an indicator of how well someone pitched.

[C.C.]

I never understood the supposed "need" to move on emotionally or mentally from the Wood era. He's a valuable asset and it was good to have him contribute.

 

I don't understand it at all. Look, I like Wood, he's a nice guy. He has pitched some great games, he was so compelling in 1998, and he almost single handedly got us our only postseason series win since 1908. But I don't understand the attachment to a guy who has 71 career wins and has made only 30 starts twice in his career. I know people are latching on to what he was, a dominating rookie with an unhittable slurve, a fireballer with a 96 MPH tailing fastball, etc. But to call any part of Kerry's career the "Wood era" would be selling short the disappointment that is/was his career.

 

What don't you understand? When he's healthy, he's one of the best pitchers in baseball. He's the type of pitcher you pay to watch. When he takes the mound, you can feel the energy. Some players have that charisma, some don't. As for having 71 career wins? What does this have anything to do with what he's meant to this org?